Scrapyard Angels Act 1 Chapter 23

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As the blinding light faded away, I was met with darkness and silence. At first I thought I had blinded myself but soon my vision started to clear. At first, all I saw through my blurred vision was the red glow that burnt brightly in front of me but soon I saw the twisted remnant of door with the bowling size hole where my bullet passed through along with the path of destruction ahead of me

My bullet not only tore through the solid metal door but had broken down the wall across the corridor in front of me. There was now a series of large holes big enough for a man to pass through ahead of me giving me a view of the city of glass of steel. Its green glow gave me a bit of comfort as the wind from outside flowed into the building.

There was silence even as I felt my hands loosen its grip on my ruined railgun. All I felt right now was the oppressive heat washing out from the warped wreck of my railgun, and the bone deep weariness. I felt alone in my thoughts with only my beating heart and the wind rushing in my lungs to remind me that I still felt alive. Then, as the adrenaline drained away, I felt pain.

My hands felt like they were cooked almost down the very bones but that was good in a twisted sort of way. I haven’t burnt myself that badly but everything hurts. I had hurt myself badly in my haste but it didn’t matter if I couldn’t save her. Turning away from the scene in front of me, I shuffled back to Vi.

There she laid on her back, hands holding her stomach as her features twisted in pain. She looked up at me and I saw her mouth but all I heard was the ringing silence that I had grown familiar with. I shook my head, doing my best to speak out how I couldn’t hear her only to be met with confusion as well. I could only hope that I didn’t deafen us both permanently.

I knelt down in front of her and slipped my hands beneath her. I could feel my limbs protest as I lifted her up. I felt unsteady as I stood up but I let my wings carry me away. Holding her like I could lose her any second now, I floated off to the hole ahead of us. As I passed through the room, I realized that I hadn't seen Warwick’s body but I felt reassured as I saw his right arm down on the floor, torn around the shoulder with bits of meat hanging down from the stump where it should have been connected to the body.

Pushing myself off the edge of the last hole, I flew off into the dark skies of Zaun. My wings carried me up high to let me avoid the low hanging buildings. I flew in between the tall skyward reaching towers dotting Zaun and above there as the rushing of the wind soon filled my ears. I wanted to stop and rest yet the feeling of her hands clutching my shirt reminded me why I fly. I needed to get help and there was only one person I could turn to.

I flew downwards, the buildings blurring past me as I went deeper into Zaun and back to where we lived. I flew down to the underbelly of Zaun, down in the city of the deep where the Sump lay suspended above the abyss. I flew straight for Bob’s scrapyard. It was the one place I could always go back to and I felt horrible going back to everyone feeling like I was taking advantage of them but I had no other choice. Every other choice was just a different shade of horrible especially if you didn’t know them.

There I was greeted by Jinx who’s tear streaked face made my heart wrench. Right beside her was Cindy, Bob, and our pets. I shouldn’t have let Vi go yesterday and I shouldn’t have gone without saying anything. It was all my fault but at least now everything was at least a bit right.

“VI! Ark!” She shouted as she rushed towards us both. My feet haven’t even when she crashed against us.

“Not… too tight” Vi groaned as our limpet could only cry her heart out.

“Oh god Ark, what the hell happened to both of you?” Asked Cindy as she and Bob came rushing towards. I must have looked like hell at the shocked looks in their eyes.

“God damn it boy, I knew you were a bit crazy but I didn’t know that you were a bit suicidal as well” Bob scolded me as he followed closely behind his daughter. I deserved his scoldings

"Bob, I need your help. Vi's been stabbed, I need to know if you know someone that could help us. I know I've already asked a lot from you but please I need your help" I pleaded to him, begging him for anything. It was only Jinx's death grip that prevented me from kneeling down in front of him.

"I-I can work for it, anything. Just, just I don't want to lose her". I was desperate for any help, anything. I looked up at the closest person I could call a father figure. His blues staring back at me and for a second I feared for the worse as saw his jaw clench but his eyes soften as he reached out to me and gently nudge me into his home

"Get inside, I know of a sawbone or two but we need to get you both patched up. Cindy, get the first aid kit. We should have some potions in there" It felt like a dam broke inside me as I poured my heart out. I cried without shame as Bob guided us inside.

I felt hesitant to let Vi go, afraid that I'd never see her again if I did but I needed to to let go. Clearing the surface of a nearby table, we laid down Vi on the surface.

Vi was still bleeding but by some miracle my bandage helped stem the flow of blood. Bob soon started to pull back the bandage to clean the wound. Cindy had to push me and Jinx away so Bob could work in peace. I could see the clean cut even from where we were forced to sit down, a set of deep wounds on her stomach. I could feel Jinx grip on my arm as she held me close, my arms shielding her from the sight of Vi’s injuries

Vi was quickly made to drink a small vial of crimson liquid. It was merely a small glass tube worth of healing potion but it wasn't meant to heal but rather buy us time. Time to help clean the wound to stop it from being infected as well as dress it properly to stop it from bleeding any further

"Ark, are you even listening?" Asked Cindy, catching my attention as she snapped her finger in front of me

"What?" I rasp out as I wiped away the wetness from my eyes with the back of my forearm

"I need you to open your hands. We need to get them wrapped up." She replied, making me look down upon my clenched fist. I didn't notice how my hands were balled into fist while blood dripped down on the floor. Small blotches colored the white stone floor thanks to how my nails were digging into my wounds.

I unclenched my fist to see my burns. Raw flesh along with the yellow patches of exposed fat were all there for my eyes to see as I looked down upon my injured hands. I hissed out as she started cleaning my wounds, patting cleaning cloth on my palms before applying a foul smelling ointment upon the burns. Soon my hands would be wrapped up, the burns hidden away after layers of clean bandages covered my hands.

As my hands were being wrapped, Bob finally finished dressing Vi’s wound up and lifted her up. “Alright, that should do it for now. We’ll have to take her to a Bonesaw just to be sure she didn’t have any of her organs punctured”

I stood up, ready to go with them but Bob placed his hands on my shoulder and gently pushed me back down. My legs buckled, folding like a stack of cards, as they were unable to hold me up even from just the weight of his hands alone.

“You need to rest. You’re hurt and you look like you’re already halfway to becoming Kindreds prey” He reminded me

“I’ll be fine” Vi rasped out as she gave us a shaky smile. “And Jinx, can you stay with Ark? Just keep him from doing something stupid ok?”

Jinx nodded fervently before wiping away her tears “I’ll keep him safe”

“About paying for the potion...” Bob held up his hands to stop me and shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a small vial and what’s it worth compared to someone’s life?” Bob replied as he walked out of the room and carried Vi off to a doctor.

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“Is Vi going to be ok?” Jinx asked as we both stared at the door.

“She’ll be fine. She’s tough as nails” I replied as I ruffled her blue locks, hissing a bit at how my wounds sting a bit. “She’ll be good as day tomorrow! Our family friend’s a really good Bonesaw” Cindy said with a confident smile on her face. I had to admit, I couldn’t help but believe her. All I needed to do now was just wait but…

“Why don’t we eat something? Maybe that’ll help us calm down” Cindy suggested. It was then that my stomach reminded me that I had yet to eat anything today. Jinx let out a small chuckle for my trouble. At Least now she didn’t have to cry

“Yeah lets.” And so Cindy dragged us both into the kitchen. The kitchen was well furnished despite Bob admitting this wasn’t really his main home. It makes me wonder what his main house is like but that’s thought for future me to mull about. For now, all my mind could think of was the food before us.

Our host pulled out a basket of bread from the small stocked pantry they had along with a jar of mayonnaise. “That's all we have right now. We usually go out when we eat so we don’t have much stocked up”

“I should be the one that’s apologizing” I replied earning me a smile from my fellow blonde

“You better get one now or Jinx here would eat it all” I turned my head to see Jinx frozen in place as she was already busy stuffing herself.

“Wha?” Jinx asked as she started chewing.

“Never change Jinx, Never change.” I replied as I gingerly got one bun and started eating. As I ate, my thoughts drifted off back to the warehouse. The image of that Chembaron imposed upon my mind. From the sound of explosions in the distance, I knew his place was burning but maybe it shouldn’t be just his place that burns.

We ate in relative silence and before long Jinx and Cindy were dozing off. It's been a long tiring day and I must have disturbed their sleep when I dropped off the Jinx to her. With food in my stomach, I could already feel my strength returning and now I carried them off to a nearby coach. I laid them down side by side while I sat down on a nearby chair.

A familiar presence made itself known as I heard the scampering sound of Whump before he clambered up onto my lap while Mr Floofignton trudged over to Jinx feet and laid down there as if to protect her in case anyone decided they wanted to hurt her

I gently ran my hands across Whump’s fur, petting him as I sat there in silence. My mind kept wandering back, refusing to let me forget that there’s still some loose ends to tie. That man was still out there and probably would remain alive even if his entire territory burned to the ground. If he finds out that I killed one of his men then he’ll come looking for us.

Fear was getting the better of me, its insidious coiling tentacles dragging me down and piling despair on my shoulder. I can’t live on knowing that he might get away from what he did to me and my family. I just can’t

Picking up Whump, he looked up at me with confusion as I laid him down beside Jinx. “Watch over Jinx for me. Make sure to keep them safe… I’ll just take a walk outside”

He tilted his head to the side as I left him there. The cool air outside was almost refreshing despite how toxic it can be at times. I took one look back, looking over to Jinx and Cindy to remind myself that I could just… let it go but I feared for the future. I didn’t want a repeat of what happened to Vi.

Turning away from them, I walked off into the night. Locking the door behind me, I look ahead. My steps turned into a sprint before my wings stretched out wide and off I flew up to the sky.

With a goal in mind, I made my way to that man's territory. All those good memories I made in this place and to think that this place would be where that man resided. My hate welled up and burnt like a thousand in my chest at the thought of him. Maybe tonight that hate would soon turn to joy if I have the chance to take his head

I came across a scene straight out of fiction. Buildings burning as enforcers from one side fought another. I could see the Vereza colors all the way up here along with a few others from other chem barons joining in as they fought against the forces that controlled this territory. I couldn’t help but smile knowing that I might have just stumbled upon justice being rendered upon another Chem Baron.

Here I was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime. He was being put into place by a coalition of Chem Barons. They wouldn’t mind if an independent actor decided it would be a good time to exact their revenge.

Knowing I had the slimmest of chance, I had to be quick if I ever wanted to have their head. People say revenge could only hurt you until they realize how sweet it can be.

Bolts of corrosive chems and bullets were exchanged down below leaving me relatively safe as I headed into the heart of his territory. It was looking bad now as I saw the large factory in front of me being besieged. All the merrier for me as I circled around the fortress looking for an opportunity.

The factory wasn’t just merely a large complex for manufacturing but also served as the seat of any industrially inclined Baron. The manor on top of the building all but enforced the image. The large highly decorative building jutted out like the central keep of a castle and the wide road around the factory serving as a moat as it was rendered into a no mans land from the ordinance coming from within.

As much as they looked almost impregnable from the ground, the air was a different thing. With how crowded Zaun is, few ever thought of flying boats getting small enough to slip in deep inside, and no one ever expects a man sized flier. I was free to do as I pleased so long as they didn't see me and now I searched for my target. My eyes focused on the highest point, wondering if they were like the Vereza’s when it comes to placing their office.

There they were, atop of it all was their office. Their large decorative glass window didn’t hide them as I saw them shouting orders and throwing everyone off their office. The look of panic, their blood shot eyes wide while they paced around, suitedly them perfectly.

Seeing how they were already panicking, I decided to give something more tangible to worry about as I dove down hard. With my feet aimed at his window, I crashed against the fragile stained glass. I could see his face twist into that of shock with mouth wide open just as my feet slammed hard against his chest.

Glass exploded into the room as I crashed inside and sent him flying away from his desk. My hands crackled with power as I walked up to him. Compared to Warwick, facing down this soft man was almost laughable.

“W-who the fuck are you! Did the Vereza’s send you?” He shouted as he unsteadily got up with his back against the closed door. His hands reached for his back as he defiantly stared back.

“Just your friendly neighborhood Owl” I replied as I threw my spell at him. Electricity arcing across the air just in time to throw off his aim. I threw as fast as I could as he emptied his gun in my direction.

I cursed as he booked it and fled out of the room but I was hot on heels. With my wings tucked a bit closer to my body, I chased after him. It was harder than it looked at the labyrinthian hallways before me. I could see him as he ran away from me, pointing his men at me as he ran.

“Shoot him you fucks shoot him! Don’t let him get close to the lab” he shouted as the bullets started

I wasn’t bullet proof and I didn’t want to test that out as I took cover from the hail of bullets. I started pulling from within, pooling power in my hands as I fired back. A loud crack echoed inside the hallway as a veritable flood of electricity arced out. They went down screaming and frothing

I floated across the hallway drunk from the power coursing through me. I couldn’t deny it, knowing how easily magic could turn things around for me.

“No matter where you hide, no matter where you run, you’re never going to get away!” I shouted as the chase began.